
Excavating mass graves in Rwanda:
The 1994 Rwandan genocide was a period of significant tragedy where the death toll exceeded 800,000 people known as Tutsis and their sympathisers who were murdered by a Hutu majority.
Excavations continue to this day, and thousands will never know the fate of friends and relatives long gone. The following photographs were taken in the Kabuga district, east of Kigali following a tip off from a man who remained silent for 24 years. What was uncovered were the remains of thousands of murdered people.
This long-term project investigates post-conflict societal issues and inherited socio-psychological problems. These photographs show the process of excavating Tutsi remains by a community effort from the Rwandan genocide nearly 24 years on. Only a corrugated metal fence separates the excavation site and the locals who live there.
Excavators are largely made up of volunteers and people of Hutu and Tutsi ancestry. These terms were introduced by colonial powers to divide Rwanda and are now illegal to use in the country.

An excavation takes place in Rwanda's capital, Kigali.

Excavated bones are placed onto tarps and wait to be sorted.

A volunteer worker emerges from an excavation site, wherin 2018, thousands were discovered in four mass graves.

As the day draws out, more and more discoveries are made.

Any clothing discovered will usually contain identification in the form of ID cards, wallets and photographs. DNA tests are also performed.

Outside of the excavation site, everyday Rwandans go about their day.
Identifying the victims:
Once the remains of the victims are discovered, they are stored and processed in order to be identified. However, due to decomposition, it is sometimes difficult to match DNA with the people excavators have found.
In many cases, the dead are buried without being named. The only real chance of finding out who they are, is through well preserved DNA. But if that is not available then speculative identification is recognised if a national ID card, driving licence or passport is located.

An improvised pulley system is introduced to collect remains from below the ground.

Workers remove soil using a pulley system.

The pulley is utilised over several hours to ensure the maximum amount of coverage is carried out.

The site of the excavation in Kabuga, Kigali.


Once remains are recovered, soil is sifted through to ensure nothing is missed.
Life continues, but will never be the same:
From the site, the contrast between the excavation grounds and its locality is stark.
Outside of the area, pharmacists, grocery stores and other local businesses go about their day, whereas, inside - clothing, hair and bodily remains are being collected to identify the dead. Of particular note was the system of discovery. Nothing is passed over nor is it discarded to better distinguish learning the identity of each victim.
Remains are transferred to a nearby facility for cleaning, testing and preparation for a formal burial.




